If only we are bound by law to plant a tree....

hi friend, maybe not just duty bound by law but rather planting a tree or any plant for that matter should be inherent in all of us, it should be as natural as eating , drinking, sleeping etc.. or anywhere, anytime our survival depends on, maybe not just planting but preserving what is already there and ours. Yes the skyline is disappearing, even in our subdivision, I'm quite proud that the Narra trees I planted when I was young is now part of our Eco park since I live right in front of the park in our Village, you can see them if you happen to pass by, wish I had planted more some 30 plus years ago.

I agree. I am so sick of the concrete jungle I live in. And this morning I heard a silly news. My neighbor, who is a politician, asked the neighbor on the otherside to cut down Mango tree as its branches were reaching her window and lizards and squirrels were enjoying a thoroughfare. And the tree was cut down. I think every person who does that suffers financial loss. My papa is another great one for cutting down trees. We had beautiful Ashoka trees in my apartment. Papa became its secretary against my wishes, and that cultural thing called respect stopped me from preventing it, and within an year or two he had four beautiful Ashoka's felled in the name of mosquitoes. Today, we have water problem in that apartment. The roots of those trees were able to hold back water for longer so that it could seep in. Even if it would not have been much, it would have been better than what it is now.

Good idea eileen, I think law makers should enact a law obliging every individual to plant trees 3x of what have been cut not necessarily in the same spot but must be planted where it is convenient for them to do.Any kind will do but most preferred are fruit bearing trees.Trees shields us from the heat of the sun, prevents erosion, produces oxygen and helps in reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

I support your words eileenleyva. Its seems like we kill the living trees to find a dwelling for ourselves. This is unforgivable. I use to see lots of shady trees when i was young. Now its seems like no where trees. All are cut into huge buildings and malls. Atleast a tree is must, this has to be taken serious.

I agree with you. Only one who has ever planted a tree, saw the joy of seeing his eyes growing every year, more beautiful, more stately, more fruitful. At first a small rod, the first branch, the first leaves, crown shape that more vigorous. With his greatness, and begins to realize that were added years to your life. And all follow their natural course of all that exists on this earth. When you see a towering tree, you can not think of one who planted the people who were in his presence at events where he, the tree was witness. In their own way, tell us many of the trees that were present. As watchmen motionless, facing the summer heat or winter cold. Or wickedness of man, most often Have you ever wondered, sitting next to a tree: it could tell us this new? Or a lot of trees in a forest that has grandeur of a cathedral? Each of us can attempt an answer. Nature is a temple where people are allowed to officiate at the liturgy of life before God ...

This only depicts how our government lacks long term environmental planning despite the fact that we have numerous agencies involve and several good laws. I wonder what would be the agency name of DENR someday if there would be no more natural resources. The government, regardless of leadership, just made environmental concerns a fad with media for popularity/approval ratings. You see, environmental concerns peak during "Natural Resources Awareness Month", "Earth Day" and many other annual programs but the rest of the year you see numerous illegal logging, even our seabed 10 times the size of Metro Manila has been harvested with precious resources that make up the sea forest in Mindanao. I know it's off topic anymore but it only shows that we have laws, we have agencies, but the crime against mother nature still happens, and nobody is ever prosecuted. I remember the Green Revolution during Marcos' time. I hope we have another one during this time and hopefully won't be another temporary program but as part of a bigger plan to protect our natural resources as we all know that prevention is better than cure. Good thing there are non-government organizations, foundations and organizations, which, despite lack of funds, show real concern to our nature. I am living in a subdivision but me and my partner managed to have papaya (which bears fruit continuously), santol, mangga, giant palmeras, talbos ng kamote, ampalaya, pandan (a leaf of which I always put in those purified water), and some ornamental plants. Aside from the shade it gives us during hot summer days, it shelters birds that greet us every morning. Of course, the fruits and vegetables it offer us during its season is truly a blessing and a good way of cutting expenses. Planting trees, vegetables and ornamental plants is also good hobby not only refreshing our air but also our minds. Nice suggestions out there, eileen!

Hi! I think that's a wonderful idea! There should be a law requiring these land developers to allot a considerable land space for trees. I'm sure this won't just be advantageous to nature but to the land users as well. We're all faced of flood issues nowadays and trees would really be helpful to fight flood. Not just that, climate change is making our world hotter, additional trees will be good to make the weather a little colder. If they don't want to allot a space for trees, then at least these companies should sponsor tree planting activities in strategic areas. Cheers.

It would be good if every lot owner would plant at least one fruit bearing tree. More would be better, but if there are houses or apartments, this might not be an option. As time goes on, there seems to be less trees and this is affecting the global climate. Thanks for the suggestion!

That's a good news if the government will allocate some land to each family for the purpose of planting some trees. It will makes our area less polluted and the air will be more fresher as well. Recently, one of my area shopping malls had came up with the idea of "planting the tree" campaign. It is for the kid to understand how important is tree to the environment. I let my son joined in the activity, to learn how to plant small tree. It is good to see some environmentalist have came to rise this kind of activity to waken-up the society regarding the importance of trees in our life. I really agreed that we should always plant as much trees as possible to preserve the beauty and the environment for our future generation.

I think that is a great idea. I know that in the area that I live in Kentucky, things have changed a lot since I've lived here. A lot of the land that just to be farm land is now residential areas and there are not all that many mature trees in those areas. In fact, it is because of the lack of mature trees in certain areas in the city that convinced me to buy a house in a much older area. Our yard has at least five mature trees on it.

Hi eileen leyva: I understand your feelings. This is a really sad situation, to see how industries and in general people in our cities are so selfish that they don't care about the environment. Sure thiere must be a law like you have proposed to control the affection we make to the nature. Trees are very important an dunfortunetly we just increase the sources of pollution. ALVARO

You have a great idea but every 200 sq. meter lot maybe too small to have a large fruit bearing trees. Then again maybe we could have our designs complement the trees we have in our lots. Actually every subdivision should have an open space/park where the trees should be the problem is that it is not with the law but with the implementation. Conversion of Forest land to agricultural land or for some other use should be closely monitored. The problem of forest denudation, it caused by kaingin. These activities should be monitored and stopped.

I'm lucky to be in singapore. Though we have a lot of buildings here, but we have a lot more trees as well. Everywhere we are, trees are bound to be spotted because they act as shade for us. Singapore is a green country and we have to live up to our name. Our trees will be chopped down to make way for buildings, but they are relocated to elsewhere, to carry on their life. I'm glad to be here in singapore.

Hi miss eileenleyva! You are truly right in every thing you said in this discussion. I love malls but I hate it when they would start destroying beauty spaces instead of occupying empty lots. I can still remember how the city government allowed the construction of SM City Baguio, where they had cut a lot of pine trees in the process. I used to look at those trees when I'm inside a cab or a jeepney looking out the window every time I pass by that road. I just wish that they could double the number of trees to be planted and I wish there are more of them in the city 'cause even Baguio, which is supposed t be the summer capital of the Philippines, isn't as cold as before when I was younger.

As far as I know there is law for that, friend. Because in the province...there is a requirements. That when you cut a tree farm or lot. You need to plant three as exchange with the one whom you cut... I don't know why they are not implement here in the city. It maybe because there is no space to plant trees...

The environmentalists and the nature groups would surely love the lawmakers who will craft this law. I think that there should be one, especially in the cities where pollution is very much a problem. However, local governments are more inclined to favor the real estate companies with all that tax and other under the table money that they can get. Poeple should be aware of the importance of trees and it should be taught to the next generation while we still can. I think there are too many buildings in the cities and there are still scarce space for people and the environment. All this progress doesn't amount to the what we truly need and what is good for us.

there are 2 trees on my mind that i want in my backyard... marrungai and lubi lubi,These are trees that can grow tall and grow fast to produce lots of oxygen and at the same time their leaves are edible vegetable greens. Large trees with edible and nutritious leaves, what else can I ask for? I would also like to have some fruit bearing trees on my back yard so I can save some money when it comes to buying fruits. I wish this law is mandatory so our pollution problems will be solved

Haha! That's nice. I wouldn't mind having a law like that. At least a tree... more if you like. ;)

I admire you. Only if all the people in this world will think that way, I guess nobody will suffer landslides, floods and global warming. We should all be part of preserving our mother earth before It is too late.

I agree! And it's nice to see that this topic has generated a lot of positive response. So people do care! The thing is, do we really care enough to put into action what we blather on? This reminded me of a Joni Mitchell song: Don't it always seem to go, that we don't know what we've got 'til it's gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.